Gustus holzapfel



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. 0. A. HOLZAPFEL.

CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS.

Patented June '7, 1892.

lllllllll J HIIIIIuIIJ m: nonnm Finns cm, WOWUTNQ, wunmmon, D. c.

UNITED STATES Parnn'r rrrcn.

ALBERT C. A. HOLZAPFEL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,643, dated June '7, 1892.

Application filed January 8, 1892. Serial No. 4171604- (N'o model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT CHARLES AU- (BiUSTUS HOLZAPFEL, a citizen of England, residing at 116Fenchurch Street,in the county of London, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ships and other Structures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of ships and other structures wherein plates flanged on all four sides are employed; audit has for its object to improve such constructions by a novel arrangement and combination of parts whereby great longitudinal and transverse strength is provided.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a part outside elevation of a ship constructed of flanged plates according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a partinside view. Fig. 3 is a perspective inside view of some of the plates. Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the plates detached to alarger scale. Fig. 5 is the blank for the connecting-plates. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the finished connecting-plate. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line X X, Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on line Y Y, Fig. 2; and Fig. 9 is a bottom section with the transverse ties constructed so as to form closed cells for ballast.

In the drawings the letter A designates a plate, which is provided with rearwardly-extending flanges on all four of its sides. These plates are placed end to end in layers one above the other. Heretofore it has been usual to dispose these plates in such a manner that the butt-joints of the plates in the several layers are in the same vertical plane; but when so arranged there is a deficiency of longitudinal strength.

According to my invention I so arrange the plates A that the butt-joints of those of one layer are not in the same vertical line with the butt-joints of the layer of plates next above or below. As shown in the drawings,

the butt-joints of the plates of the first and third layers are in line with each other and the butt-joints of the plates of the second and fourth layers in line with each other, but out of line with the butt-joints of the first and third layers. I prefer this arrangement of the plates; but it is obvious that this arrangement of the plates may be varied without departing from the spirit of myinvention. For example, the plates of the first and fourth layers may be so arranged that their buttjoints are in the same vertical line and the butt-joints of the second and fifth layers are in a common vertical line, but out of line with the butt-joints of the first and fourth layers. By this novel arrangement of flanged plates greater longitudinal strength is provided than in other structures in common use.

The novel arrangement of flanged plates described has a tendency to decrease the strength in a direction transversely of the plates, and in order to provide the requisite strength in this direction I employ the following instrumentalities.

One end flange of each plate is made sufliciently deeper than the others for receiving a line of rivets, as shown at Figs. 3, 4, and 7, for fixing a tie B thereto, and the plates of the several layers have their projecting transverse flanges a so arranged that those of the first, third, fifth, &c., layers are in line, and also that those of the second, fourth, sixth, &7C., are in line. At the middle of each plate is fixedatransverse connecting-plate O. This plate is formed of a blank having the configuration shown at Fig. 5, the middle portion 1) being of the same depth as the flanges a of the plates A, while the two side wings Z) are of the same depth as the other flanges of the plates. These wings are then bent to a right angle, as shown at Fig. 6, the length of the plate of the outside of such bent wings or flanges being such as to fit between the longitudinal flanges of the plate, to which the flanges are then riveted, as shown more particularlyin Figs. 3 and 8. These plates 0 are fixed in such positions within the plates A that those fixed in the plates of the second, fourth, &c., layers have theirprojecting part Z) in line with the deep flanges ctaof the plates of the first, third, &c., layers, while those fixed in the last-named plates arein line with the flanges a a of the second, fourth, &c., layers of. plates, so that the transverse angleiron or other ties B can be fixed not only to the flanges a a of the plates that have their butt-joints in line, butalso to the plates of the intermediate layers by means of the connecting-plates C.

The transverse ties B can either be of angle, T, or other desired section and constitute an equivalent to the ribs of ships built in the ordinary manner. They may also be made of simple plates, as at Fig. 5), and may in that case serve to form closed ballast-cells by having shallow flanged plates D riveted to their upper ends, as shown.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination, in a ship or other structure, of plates A,provided with interior flanges arranged in layers, one of said flanges a of said plates being deeper than the others, the flanges a of the plates of one layer being out of line with the flange a of the plates of other layers, and transverse ties 13, connected to the said flanges a, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a ship or other structu re, of plates A, provided with interior flanges arranged inlayers,one of the flanges aof said plates being deeper than the others, the flanges a of the plates of one layer being out of line with the flange a of the plates of other laya, transverse ties B, secured to said flanges a T and connecting-plates O, and flanged plates D, connecting the ties B to form closed ballast-cells, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 21st day of December, A. D. 1891.

ALBERT C. A. HOLZAPFEL.

Witnesses:

CHAS. D. ABEL, 28 Southampton Buildings, London, IV. C.

J NO. P. M. MILLARD, Clerk to llfcssrs. Abel d? Immg, Consulting Engineers and Patent Agents, 28 Southampton Buildings, London, TV. 0. 

